Join us for an episode of the Beyond the Bots^SM Twitch series next week as we take a behind-the-scenes look at how robotics is used in a variety of industries, showing the FIRST^® community how STEM skills can be applied to a myriad of future career opportunities.

During this special National Robotics Week episode, hosted by FIRST alumni Libby Kamen and Karthik Kanagasabapathy, representatives from the U.S. Air Force, Amazon, Disney, and FedEx sit down for an engaging and live Q&A to discuss how their companies are finding innovative ways to incorporate robotics within the workplace.

Mark your calendars and tune in to FIRSTtv on Twitch on Thursday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET to hear more about these incredible innovations and wonderful career opportunities! 

Earlier this month, Dr. Jill Biden, educator and First Lady of the United States, was presented with the first 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar, a commemorative coin designating a portion of proceeds to FIRST programs, for her lifelong dedication to teaching. During the ceremony, she said:

“There’s a saying Christa loved, and it’s inscribed on the coin that we unveiled today: 'I touch the future. I teach.' And this coin, like her life, is a tribute to all educators, as Steve [McAuliffe, her widower] said. It’s a reminder of the incredible power we hold to write our history and to shape our future. And it’s a recognition of the obligation we have to keep working toward a time when all students have all that they need to thrive. So thank you to all the educators who touch the future.”

Christa McAuliffe’s “I touch the future. I teach.” saying reflects the incredible impact of teachers everywhere, from community college professors like Dr. Biden to middle school teachers like Tammy Hickey, a former student of McAuliffe’s who now teaches Physical Education at Buffalo Creek Middle School in Florida. Check out our interview with Hickey on the FIRST Inspire blog.

The mantra at Greenfield Union School District, which serves approximately 3,600 PreK-8 students in Greenfield, Calif., is “ALL means ALL.” Equity and access are critical when implementing new programs. In support of the district’s goals, FIRST Strategic Partner Apple provided funding for FIRST Class Packs, FIRST Certified Professional Development, and other materials and support that enabled Greenfield to bring the FIRST^® LEGO^® League experience to every PreK-6 student in the district last season. Superintendent Zandra Jo Galván shares how FIRST fits into the Greenfield Union School District’s strategy to prepare every student for the future.